The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our world in a variety of ways. It has impacted the health of millions, led to lockdowns and social distancing around the world and all but stopped large gatherings. Non-essential travel has all but ceased as well.
It has also impacted businesses in a major way. Many businesses have had to lay off large portions of their workforce, or even shut down their operations. Many brick-and-mortar stores have seen much less traffic, and restaurants are struggling too.
Even the business that remained opened experienced a lot of changes and felt the effects of the global health crisis. Here are some of the challenges COVID-19 has forced some companies to go through.
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Changes to Their Shipping
A major change that COVID-19 has had on companies is in the way items are shipped. Not only have shipments often gotten larger due to more people shopping online, but the entire process now needs to be handled much more carefully.
Packaging needs to be sanitized, products need to be handled according to new protocols and deliveries need to be made safely. Drivers now need to wear masks, and signing for packages has largely stopped due to the pandemic. Many shipping delays have also occurred due to this new need for increased care and safety precautions, as well as volume.
This is especially true for companies shipping medical-related products or materials. They must pay diligent attention to ensure their products are packaged correctly. Services like https://www.ctpboxes.com have stepped up to help by designing and engineering packaging that is built, handled and cared for safely.
An Increase in Software and Online Solutions
While digital transformations were already occurring in a variety of different industries, COVID-19 has dramatically sped up the adoption of digital technologies. Many more companies are now making the switch online and offering their customers a variety of online solutions.
Improvements are now in place for better customer service, curbside pickup, online ordering and delivery and simply more effective and streamlined online experiences than ever before. More customers are shopping online now, and companies need to be able to meet this demand.
Various pieces of software were already crucial for businesses, but the pandemic has taken this necessity to new heights. With more customers being more comfortable shopping and doing business online, both brick-and-mortar and online businesses have had to adjust.
Switching to a Remote Workforce
While the remote workforce was already growing before the pandemic, there is no doubt that it has only gotten larger. For safety, many companies have had to allow their teams to work from home, if possible. This has been a major change for many businesses and has completely revolutionized what a regular workday looks like for millions of people all over the world. While the transition has been easy for some companies, this hasn’t always been the case.
Of course, in order to have a remote workforce, your team needs to use a variety of different software to keep them connected and ensure they can collaborate. This can include communication apps, project management platforms and even the cloud for easy file sharing and storage.
While some companies will eventually go back to everyone working in the office, don’t be shocked to see some stick with remote work even after the pandemic is over.
The Profound Impact of COVID-19 on Businesses
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on businesses all over the world. Whether it led to changes in how a company ships, how they serve their customers or even where their team works, the pandemic has certainly changed the business world – perhaps for good.
